Chest Pain Center

Cardiac Catheterization, Balloon Angioplasty, and Stent placement are considered to be the “Gold Standard” in the treatment of coronary artery disease. Your Cardiac Cath Lab team consists of a group of experienced Physicians, Techs and Nurses who bring over 60 plus years of Cath Lab experience to Anderson Hospital.

When patients experience chest pain, it is critically important that they receive care that is both urgent and appropriate. The Anderson Hospital Chest Pain Center is accessible 24 hours a day, with rapid assessment by an emergency department physician on arrival and nurses who are specially trained to treat patients with chest pain. With proven protocols established to transfer patients to higher levels of care, in addition to an on-site, 24/7 interventional Cardiac Cath Lab, Anderson Hospital has access to the most advanced cardiovascular technology available.

In addition, Anderson Hospital works with local EMS providers in Collinsville, Edwardsville, Maryville, Glen Carbon, Troy, Highland and Staunton who are trained to quickly recognize, diagnose and begin treatment to treat heart attack sufferers on the spot, before they reach the hospital. “Think of it as a hospital on wheels arriving to your home,” said William Rodgers, Anderson Hospital's director of Cardiovascular Services. “When someone calls 911, Emergency Medical Systems personnel have the tools to quickly recognize a heart attack and have the capability to transmit EKGs to the emergency room. The physician can interpret the EKG and confirm the presence of a heart attack. EMS providers can do important things like obtaining IV access and administering aspirin. If a patient becomes unstable, they have the equipment to deliver advanced cardiac life support. The quick diagnosis and early recognition also alerts Anderson Hospital’s Cath Lab team so that interventional cardiologists and Cath Lab staff can prepare and be ready for the patient upon arrival. "Anderson Hospital is the only hospital in Madison County that has the staff and capabilities to offer emergency Cath Lab treatments to heart attack victims 24 hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week, 365 days-a-year," Rodgers said.

The center is under the medical direction of cardiologist, Dr. Michael J. Fleissner. He is one of eight cardiologists on staff able to treat patients in the center.

The Chest Pain Center also cares for patients who undergo cardiac catheterization at Anderson Hospital. Patients will be prepped for their procedure and receive their post-procedure recovery in the unit.

Anderson Hospital's Chest Pain Center is proudly accredited by the The American College of Cardiology (ACC) for its demonstrated expertise and commitment in treating patients with chest pain. Anderson was awarded Chest Pain Center Accreditation with Primary PCI in 2015 and again in 2018 based on rigorous onsite evaluation of the staff’s ability to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients who may be experiencing a heart attack. The accreditation process takes place every three years.